Shas Directed by Chief Rabbi to Support Communications Bill Benefiting Right-Wing Channels

Shas party is expected to back the flagship communications bill proposed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi following a directive from Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef to party leader Aryeh Deri. Rabbi Yosef's letter emphasized that the agreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu remains intact, instructing Shas to support legislation important to Likud in exchange for advancing their own legislative priorities, including laws on Torah study and kosher standards.

Minister Karhi highlighted in his letter to Rabbi Yosef that the bill explicitly prohibits broadcasting significant public sports events on apps during Shabbat and Jewish holidays, specifying precise start and end times. He also noted the bill introduces unique restrictions on technical services to the public on these days, aiming to reduce Shabbat desecration by limiting human activity and restricting app content expansion. Karhi offered to provide detailed data and answer any questions to clarify the bill’s benefits.

Rabbi Yosef urged Deri not to delay and to ensure the passage of the Torah study law and support the current kosher legislation to protect the Jewish people from consuming non-kosher food. The agreement between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties includes passing laws on Torah study, preventing arrest of draft-dodging yeshiva students, and kosher standards, while the ultra-Orthodox will support splitting the Attorney General role and have already backed a political inquiry into the October 7 massacre.

Previously, Shas announced it could not support the communications bill in its current form, citing the exclusion of rabbinic-mandated amendments aimed at protecting religious values. The party called on Karhi to split the bill and hold separate votes on regulatory easing for new channels, including Channel 14, signaling support if such a split occurs. The Chief Rabbi’s directive this morning signals a shift toward backing the bill, which favors right-wing media outlets.

Summary: Following a directive from Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Shas party is set to support Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s bill, which restricts broadcasting on Shabbat and benefits right-wing channels, in exchange for advancing key ultra-Orthodox legislative priorities with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Points: - Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef instructed Shas leader Aryeh Deri to support the communications bill. - The bill bans broadcasting major sports events on apps during Shabbat and Jewish holidays. - Shas demands advancing Torah study and kosher laws in exchange for backing the bill. - Minister Karhi emphasized the bill reduces Shabbat desecration and limits app content expansion. - Shas previously opposed the bill without rabbinic amendments but may support if it is split. - The agreement includes ultra-Orthodox support for splitting the Attorney General role and a political inquiry into the October 7 massacre.

Topic: politics

Entities: {"people":["Yitzhak Yosef","Aryeh Deri","Shlomo Karhi","Benjamin Netanyahu"],"organizations":["Shas","Likud"],"places":[]}